Contact responsive metronome
A metronome including a sensor capable of detecting an event and a controller in communication with the sensor and which controls the metronomes response to the event. The controller can receive a signal from the sensor indicating an occurrence of the event, the controller, in response, can generate a signal to adjust a characteristic of the metronome in response to the event.
1. A metronome, comprising:
a first sensor; and
a controller in communication with the first sensor, wherein when the controller receives a signal from the first sensor indicating a predetermined number of strikes to the metronome, the controller, in response, generates a signal to mute or un-mute a speaker, and wherein when the controller receives a signal from the first sensor indicating an event different from the predetermined number of strikes to the metronome, the controller, in response, generates a signal to one of (i) set a tempo based on a characteristics of the event, (ii) turn on and off the metronome based on a characteristics of the event, and (iii) place the metronome to one of a sleep mode and an awake mode.
2. The metronome of claim 1 , wherein the event is at least one of a strike and a plurality of strikes,
wherein the tempo is based on an average time between each of the plurality of strikes, and
wherein the tempo starts to play a beat as a continuation of the plurality of strikes.
3. The metronome of claim 2 , further comprising a processor configured to calculate the average time between each of the plurality of strikes.
4. The metronome of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is capable of detecting at least one of a strike, a motion, a sound of a predetermined wavelength, and a vibration.
5. The metronome of claim 1 , wherein the controller is in communication with a speaker and at least one of increases and decreases a volume of the speaker.
6. The metronome of claim 1 further comprising a tempo controller that is adapted to adjust the tempo and a tempo display in communication with the tempo controller, wherein the tempo display illustrates the tempo set by the tempo controller.
7. The metronome of claim 6 , wherein the tempo controller is designed to receive a portion of an adjusting device such that a user can adjust the tempo of the metronome with the adjusting device.
8. The metronome of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a power button, at least one volume button, an accent button, an audio jack, and a USB port.
9. The metronome of claim 1 further comprising at least one mounting opening.
10. The metronome of claim 1 further comprising a body having an impact absorbing material to cushion a force associated with the event.
11. The metronome of claim 10 , wherein the impact absorbing material is in a form of an interchangeable sleeve.
12. The metronome of claim 1 , further comprising a second sensor capable of detecting at least one of a strike, a motion, a sound of a predetermined wavelength, and a vibration.
13. A method for modifying a metronome output comprising the steps of:
striking the metronome a predetermined number of times;
adjusting a tempo based on an average amount of time between each of the predetermined number of strikes;
playing the tempo from a last strike; and
striking the metronome a second predetermined number of times to one of mute and unmute the metronome.